Donald Wayne Keys, age 85, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at West Palm Beach VA Medical Hospice Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Born July 27, 1936 in Veedersburg, Indiana, he was the son of the late Alfred and Evelyn Hicks Keys. Donald was a United States Army veteran and attended Purdue University. While attending college, he married Kathleen Ann Eurley on August 2, 1969 and together started a family of one daughter and twin sons in Munster, Indiana.

In 1980, Donald moved his family to a 25-acre farm in Cadiz, KY and took a position as a plant manager at Kentucky Machine and Engineering, Inc. where he ultimately retired as a manufacturing sales engineer in 2002. Donald was a lifelong member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

In addition to his parents and three siblings, Donald was preceded in death by his son Edward John Keys (September 16, 2020); and is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathleen A. Keys of Vero Beach, FL; daughter Linda S. Thomas (Jimmy) of Pleasant View, TN; and son Michael A. Keys of Cadiz, KY; 5 grandchildren; one-step grandson; and one-step great-grandson.

Donald was an avid reader, enjoyed fishing, golfing, camping, woodworking, crocheting, painting, tinkering and loved eating food.

Donald and his wife were former members of Cadiz Christian Church in Cadiz, KY and are current members of the St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, FL.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Friends of Fisher House VA Medical Center-West Palm Beach, 7305 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL. 33410 or St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, FL. 32966.

A memorial service to celebrate Donald’s life will be announced at a later date.